The success of "Flintlock" led Americans to reduce their program of operations. Admiral Turner decided to carry out the attack on Eniwetok Atoll on February 17, which took the name of Operation "Catchpole" (record).
The main objective was by three islands chosen among the 40 of the atoll:Engebi in the north, Eniwetok and Parry in the south. The garrison, 3,500 strong, had multiplied trenches and underground shelters, but had no concrete installations. “Catchpole”, executed with considerable luxury of means — two assault regiments, not counting the support elements of the ships of the Fifth Fleet — was the repetition of Kwajalein. Using a proven technique, the ships penetrated the waters of the lagoon which reached nearly 30 by 35 kilometers. After preliminary bombardments, assault groups occupied secondary islands to install strong artillery positions. Thanks to considerable fire support, Engebi was occupied on February 18 within hours. The next day, it was the turn of Eniwetok, where all resistance ceased on the evening of the 21st.
Finally, on February 22, the marines brought down the last position, that of Parry.
The results were even more favorable than in Kwajalein. Nearly 3,400 Japanese remained on the ground; the prisoners were only a handful, almost all Korean workers. As for the losses of the marines and the army, they did not exceed 350 killed and 850 wounded.
The Gilbert and Marshall campaign therefore ended in indisputable success. At Majuro, Kwajalein and Eniwetok, the Americans had remarkable naval air bases to continue the push towards Japan, via the Central Pacific. The “blown up” garrisons of the Marshalls were now neutralized, with significant manpower, until the end of the war. Finally, the large base of Truk, whose air resources were very limited, had not been able to oppose the American action. The Japanese Navy's sanctuary had even ceased to be inviolate. On February 17, the embarked formations of Task Force 58 had launched an extremely violent attack, destroying nearly 260 aircraft, putting out of action two heavy cruisers, three auxiliary cruisers, four destroyers, nineteen freighters and five tankers. The losses would have been even greater if, in the preceding days, Admiral Koga had not withdrawn the bulk of his forces to the west.
In February 1944, the Americans had therefore carried out the first breach in the Japanese defense perimeter. The end of the war seemed closer to a few months.
During the first ten weeks following the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the new government of the Peoples Republic of China, in place for 9 months, was able to content itself with observing the unfolding of events. If these delighted the Communists, Chinese or otherwise, they were, on